Leona Trainer was a valued colleague and much-loved friend who helped establish Transatlantic Agency as the premier literary agency in Canada handling children’s and young adult literature. Before she joined Transatlantic, Leona was President of Stoddart Kids, and Vice President of Stoddart and General Publishing. Leona also worked in sales and marketing positions at Penguin Books Canada, Bantam Canada and Scholastic Canada. Leona’s volunteer activities include serving for many years as a Director and Chair of the Canadian Children’s Book Centre, The Canadian Book Publisher’s Council and the Canadian Association of Publisher’s Educational Representatives.
Leona will be remembered as someone who was intensely loyal to those who earned her trust. She was warm and funny and loved her husband, Jerry, and their many children and grandchildren with a passion. She will be missed by Jerry, her extended family and many friends, including authors whose work she championed at the agency. Leona suffered from Alzheimer’s disease and died from complications caused by COVID 19 on April 30th in a care facility in Markham, Ontario.